Oklahoma City – The Oklahoma Center for Poison and Drug Information celebrates the 55th annual National Poison Prevention Week March 19 through 25. Poison Prevention Week is dedicated to raising awareness about poisoning in the United States and highlighting specific ways to prevent it.
“Poisonings can happen anywhere, at any time and to anyone,” said Scott Schaeffer, managing director of the Oklahoma Center for Poison and Drug Information. “During National Poison Prevention Week, poison centers staff want to remind the public that while poisonings are the leading cause of injury deaths in the United States, many poisonings are preventable and expert help is always just a phone call away.”
By programming the Poison Help number, 1(800) 222-1222, into your phone and posting it somewhere visible in your home, you can be ready in the event of a poison emergency or if you have a question.
“We are happy to announce a new way to quickly get the Poison Help number: text the word ‘poison’ to 797979. You will automatically be texted back a link to download a vCard into your smartphone, which you can save to your contacts,” said Schaeffer.
In partnership with the Substance Use Prevention Alliance, the Poison Center will be holding two Prescription Drug Community Forums, both of which are complimentary, during National Poison Prevention Week. The center has collaborated with both Metro Technology Centers and Rose State College to host these forums. A diverse panel of professionals will talk to students and community members about:
- Prescription drug abuse and misuse
- Signs of a prescription drug overdose
- Information on the lifesaving opioid overdose reversal drug naloxone
- Testimonies from individuals and families affected by this growing epidemic
Forum attendees will gain education and prevention tools to use in their daily lives for safe use, storage and disposal of prescription drugs and learn strategies to help combat the growing addiction crisis.
The first Prescription Drug Community Forum is set for 8:30 to 10 a.m. Tuesday, March 21, in the auditorium of the Metro Technology Business Conference Center, 1900 Springlake Drive, in Oklahoma City. Doors are located at Entry 6.
The second Prescription Drug Community Forum will be held from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 22, at Rose State College’s Fine Arts Theater, 6420 S.E. 15th St., in Midwest City.
Individuals and organizations who would like to follow social media content pertaining to National Poison Prevention Week should use and search for the hashtags #NPPW17 and #PreventPoison.
Pharmacists and registered nurses at the poison center are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week at (800) 222-1222. Please do not email the poison center or a member of the poison center staff, as poisoning emergencies are not handled through email. The Oklahoma Center for Poison and Drug Information is a program of the University of Oklahoma College of Pharmacy at the OU Health Sciences Center. For more information, log on towww.oklahomapoison.org.
